Captain Faiz Fazal and Akshay Wadkar hit centuries before Vidarbha declared their innings at 332/6 with a lead of 100 runs against Chhattisgarh on Day 3 of their Ranji Trophy 2018-19, Elite A, Round 4 clash.

Vidarbha then reduced Chhattisgarh to 28/4 with Lalit Yadav taking 2/21 from six overs before the day’s play ended on Friday.

Fazal and Wadkar resumed in the same vein as they had ended the second day’s play. From 119/3 when the play recommenced, they took the defending champions to 303/3.

Together, they added 272 runs for the fourth wicket, putting their team in control of the proceedings after they were reduced to 31/3.

Fazal continued his excellent form, hitting his third century of the season and was out on 146. Wadkar hit a second successive century and remained unbeaten on 144 off 315.

Having secured a comfortable lead of 100 runs, the visitors declared their innings, hoping to enforce a result.

And their prospect of a win received a major boost after the bowlers blew away Chhattisgarh’s top order. Apart from Lait’s double-strike, Yash Thakur and Akshay Wakhare also chipped in with a wicket each.

At stumps, Amandeep Khare (3*) and Shakeeb Ahmed (0*) were the two unbeaten Chhattisgarh batsmen with the hosts still trailing by 72 runs